First Night Alexandria is good for Businesses

First Night Alexandria is a great way to spend New Year's Eve with family and friends in a safe, accessible and fun way! It's also great for Alexandria businesses because through surveys, attendees tell us they want to shop and they want to come back to businesses they visited on New Year's Eve.

"First Night Alexandria is a perfect event to end each year and welcome the new one.  I am delighted so many of our residents participate in various ways and we welcome the thousands of adults and children from all across the region and country who join us for our celebration! I am proud to be a sponsor of this event as a business owner. As the Mayor of Alexandria I support the City's participation as well!"
Honorable William D. Euille, Mayor, Alexandria, VA

Consider these facts about this annual event and you get the picture:

• Tourists come! Nearly half of the 15,000 attendees came from outside Alexandria
• Without it, Alexandria would be very quiet: more than half of attendees told us they would not or may not have come to Alexandria on December 31 if there was not a First Night celebration.
• They bring their spending money: Over and above the cost of admission, attendees spent an average of $61 each!
• What does it mean for BUSINESS and our CITY? How about this: the estimated rate of return to the city from First Night exceeded half a million dollars!

Put Your Business First on First Night

Here's how:

• Hotels: offer First Night Alexandria accommodation packages utilizing First Night Fun Packs. Advertise! We can help with conent! Just contact the First Night staff. 
• Email: info@firstnightalexandria.org
• Retailers: Be open! Take advantage of the 12,000-15,000 revelers on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day! The streets will be alive with the sound of BUSINESS! We'll give you a First Night Family Fun Pack to offer as a door prize at your establishment. Build excitement and reward your customers.
• Restaurants: Make First Night Fun Packs for 2 or 4 people part of your New Year's Eve dinner packages for your customers! Ask about discounts when you buy 50 or more Fun Packs. Advertise using this great marketing tool! We can help with the content.
• Corporate & Other Businesses: Give First Night Alexandria admission tickets to employees, clients and colleagues as year-end gifts of appreciation! Fun Packs or individual admission badges are a great way to say "thanks!" to everyone on your business holiday list. Ask us about discounts when you buy 20 or more Fun Packs. Your employees will appreciate you and help bring business to our city!